SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 11th June (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Development Society, through the Santa Cruz Film Office section, has overseen the coordination of a total of 50 film and series productions, photo shoots, and advertising videos for international brands during the initial five months of the year. The announcement was made by the mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, who highlighted the filming of scenes for international series, Spanish films, as well as photography and advertising video campaigns for global brands.
Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez mentioned that the City Council of Santa Cruz, with the assistance of the Santa Cruz Film Office section of the Development Society, has provided guidance for managing relevant procedures and permits in various municipal areas (Heritage Service, Public Services, Universal Mobility and Accessibility Service, Citizen Security, etc.) to support these productions and position the city as an ideal destination for the audiovisual industry.
Additionally, Bermúdez emphasised the economic advantages that these productions bring to the municipality, stating that hosting audiovisual works, whether films, series, or TV commercials, “not only showcases Santa Cruz’s attractions to the world but also provides an economic stimulus for local businesses involved in activities such as production, catering, car rentals, and hotels, among others.” He added, “Our role is to facilitate the execution of these productions, and cooperation between the public and private sectors is crucial in achieving this.”
The CEO of the Development Society, Carmen Pérez, reported that since the establishment of the Santa Cruz Film Office in July 2012 until May 2024, processing procedures have been simplified for a total of 712 audiovisual projects, including series, films, advertisements, or photo shoots. Therefore, “our capital city has become one of the most significant locations for conducting these works.” Pérez noted a rise in filming activities in Santa Cruz in recent years, exemplified by the 87 projects in 2023 and 85 in 2021, marking the two busiest years.
“Utilising Santa Cruz as a backdrop for national and international productions presents an invaluable promotional opportunity,” stated Pérez, highlighting that in 2023, the city will accommodate a total of 87 productions, including scenes from 8 feature films like Den Of Thieves 2 featuring actor Gerald Butter, Guy Ritchie’s film In the Grey, and the national production Disco Ibiza Locomía by director Kike Malillo, The Flag by Martín Cuervo, among others.
Pérez also mentioned that in 2023, Santa Cruz hosted the filming of series such as the Spanish ‘One Life Less’ in the Canary Islands, starring Natalia Verbeke and Ginés García Millán, and the miniseries ‘Camilo Superstar’. Additionally, National Geographic and Discovery Channel selected the streets of Santa Cruz for two documentaries, while brands such as Nivea, Mango, Nike, and Primark chose the city for shooting advertisements and conducting photography and video sessions. Moreover, “in the first five months of 2024, we have already facilitated the coordination of fifty productions,” added Pérez.
Pérez highlighted that notable productions in the first five months of 2024 include the filming of scenes for the series ‘The Head 3’, featuring John Lynch and Clara Galle; the BBC series ‘The Gold 2’; and the Spanish series ‘What are you waiting for?’, starring Adriana Torrebejano, Rubén Cortada, and Adriana Ugarte, among others. Furthermore, arrangements have been made for scenes from the Spanish film ‘Reasonable Doubt’, a documentary about the life of Tenerife boxer Miguel Velazquez, and advertising campaigns and photography sessions for brands such as Armani, Mango, C&A, Merrel, Audi, Kalenjii, Cerruti, Citröen, or Décimas.
Moreover, Pérez pointed out that initiatives within the audiovisual sector are included in the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Strategic Tourism Plan 2022-2027, with a focus on enhancing the destination through cinema and other audiovisual productions. This strategy is put into effect through support for filming, collaboration in festivals and events, promoting entrepreneurship, and premieres, among others.
Finally, Carmen Pérez highlighted that the Santa Cruz Film Office aims to address the demand for services by audiovisual production companies, offering free information, advice, and administrative support to facilitate filming in the municipality by bridging the gap between public administrations and production companies.
Production companies interested in utilising the advisory services of the Santa Cruz Film Office can contact [email protected].
